Liquid dispensing device



June 19, 1956 w. B. YORGEY, JR 2,750,752

LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1953 lNl/E/VTOR W B. FORGE), JR

By WM ATTORNEY United States Patent LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Willard B. Yorgey, Jr., Allentown, Pa., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated,.New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,769

2 Claims. (Cl. 62-1) This invention relates to an improved dispensing device for liquids and particularly to a safety device for dispensing liquefied gases from flasks by applying air pressure thereto to force the liquid out of the flask through a discharge tube.

Flasks of liquefied gases, such as nitrogen and air, must be left open and exposed to atmospheric pressure to prevent the build-up of explosive pressures caused by the vaporization of the liquid therein. Present dispensers utilizing long venting passages and valves are susceptible to freezing and clogging under certain conditions which disables the venting means and creates a hazardous condition.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide an improved dispenser for such liquids which will permit safe storage and dispensing of the liquid.

According to the general features of the invention, a liquid discharge tube extending down through the body of the dispenser is supported on the neck of the flask by an apertured disc, the aperture in the disc being considerably larger than the tube extending through it to provide an annular passage around the tube through which vapor from the liquefied gas normally exhausts to the atmosphere. A resilient stopper is provided on the body of the dispenser for engaging the apertured disc when the body, which is slidably mounted with respect to the apertured disc, is pushed down to seal the annular passage, closing the exhaust or venting path from the flask to the atmosphere. Liquid from the flask is dispensed through the tube when compressed air is applied to the flask through the aperture when it is sealed by the stopper, the air being fed from an air valve on the body of the dispenser through a passage therein which connects to the sealed aperture. When the downward pressure is removed from the body, a spring automatically fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an assembly view, partially in section, of the dispenser according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. l in its discharge position; and

Fig. 3 is an exploded view, partially in section, of the main body and disc assembly of the device of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, a liquid discharge tube 5 is supported in a double walled storage flask 7 by the dispenser so that the intake end 8 of the tube 5 is in the liquefied gas 9 close to the bottom of the flask. The dispenser is supported on the neck 6 of the flask by the disc assembly 10 which is comprised of three annular disc members 12, 13 and 14 which are held together by screws 22. Disc 13, which is between phenol fiber discs 12 and 14, is of a resilient material such as rubber and Patented June 19, 1 956 provides an airtight seal on the mouth of the flask. The central hole in disc 14 is larger than the outside diameter of. the mouth of the flask to prevent making contact therewith and to allow the rubber disc 13 to seat properly.

Holes 24 in disc 12, cut-outs 23 in disc 13 and holes 25 in disc 14 provide a slip-fit for the rods 15 which are mounted to the main phenol fiber body member 16. As seen in Fig. 1, a spring 17 compressed between the body member 16 and disc assembly 10 holds the two parts in a normal separated position as determined by the limit stops 33 at the ends of rods 15 which engage the disc assembly.

The tube 5 makes an airtight fit in a central hole in the main body member 16 and, as the diameter of the central hole in the disc assembly 10 is considerably larger than the diameter of the tube 5, a large annular passage 11 is provided between the tube and the disc assembly which serves as a venting passage from the flask to the atmosphere.

A rubber stopper 30, surrounding and extending slightly beyond the lower tapered part of the main body member 16, makes an airtight seal against the flat surface of disc 12 when the main body 16 is pushed down to dispensing position as shown in Fig. 2. A convenient handle 32 is provided on air valve 19 for this purpose. When in this position, liquid from the flask is dispensed therefrom through tube 5 by depressing the button 21 on the air valve 19 which allows compressed air to enter the flask from an air supply (not shown) through the air line 20, the air valve 19 mounted on the main body 16, through passage 18 in the body 16 extending to the sealed ofi annular passage 11 through to the flask.

The liquid discharge can be stopped simply by releasing the button 21 and relieving the air pressure on the flask by removing the downward pressure on the dispenser whereby spring 1'7 returns the main body 16 to its normal position opening the venting passage to the atmosphere.

it is to be noted that this venting passage of large annular cross-sectional area leads directly to the atmosphere and would be extremely diflicult to clog. As an added safety feature, however, the dispenser is made to rest directly on the top of the flask being held in place principally by its own weight. If the venting passage was closed or became clogged, the pressure built up within the flask would be limited as it would simply cause the dispenser to lift off the mouth of the flask to break the seal made by rubber disc 13 and relieve the built up pressure therethrough.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for dispensing liquids from flasks comprising an apertured disc supported on the neck of the flask and making a resilient seal therewith, a discharge tube, a main body member slidably mounted with respect to the apertured disc for supporting the tube in the flask through the aperture in the disc, said aperture being larger than the cross section of the tube extending therethrough to provide an open annular passage therebetween extending to the flask for exhausting vapors therefrom to the atmosphere, a resilient member mounted on the main body for contacting the apertured disc to seal off the annular passage from the atmosphere when the main body is pushed down toward the disc, an air valve, connected to a source of compressed air, mounted on the main body, a passage in the main body connecting the valve and the sealed off annular passage and resilient means for holding the main body and the disc in a nor- 3 mally separated position to open the annular passage to the atmosphere.

2. A device for dispensing liquefied gases from flasks comprising an annular disc member supported on the neck of the flask, one side of the disc having a resilient portion for making an airtight seal with the flask and the other side having a flat, rigid surface, a discharge tube for the flask, a main body member slidable with respect to the disc member for supporting the tube in the flask through the central hole in the disc member, said central hole being larger than the cross section or" the tube extending therethrough to provide a venting passage therebetween, a resilient means on the main body for making an airtight seal against the flat, rigid surface on References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 879,604 Wawrzinski Feb. 18, 1908 1,223,047 Heitz et al Apr. 17, 1917 1,421,319 Stern June 27, 1922 2,312,067 Bates Feb. 23, 1943 

2. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LIQUEFIED GASES FROM FLASKS COMPRISING AN ANNULAR DISC MEMBER SUPPORTED ON THE NECK OF THE FLASK, ONE SIDE OF THE DISC HAVING A RESILIENT PORTION FOR MAKING AN AIRTIGHT SEAL WITH THE FLASK AND THE OTHER SIDE HAVING A FLAT, RIGID SURFACE, A DISCHARGE TUBE FOR THE FLASK, A MAIN BODY MEMBER SLIDABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE DISC MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE TUBE IN THE FLASK THROUGH THE CENTRAL HOLE IN THE DISC MEMBER, SAID CENTRAL HOLE BEING LARGER THAN THE CROSS SECTION OF THE TUBE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH TO PROVIDE A VENTING PASSAGE THEREBETWEEN, A RESILIENT MEANS ON THE MAIN BODY FOR MAKING AN AIRTIGHT SEAL AGAINST THE FLAT, RIGID SURFACE ON 